Some facts on fat. Is Butter Back?

Complicated questions about diet and health require evidence from many different types of studies over many years before the weight of evidence shifts toward consensus.

In the case of dietary fat, most scientists do agree on a number of points. First, eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent insulin resistance. Second, replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates will not reduce heart disease risk. Third, olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil are good for you – as are nuts (especially walnuts), which, while they include some saturated fat, are also high in unsaturated fat, tipping the balance in their favor. Finally, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for many biological processes, from building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve function. We should eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, to obtain adequate amounts of both fatty acids.

No, butter is not back. People should prioritize those foods that we know improve health, and butter is not one of them: